Hi Friend,
If you mean in 'de beaux arbres' -
Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson which will illustrate this little rule -
Hope this helps!
Note that certain adjectives change their meanings depending if they appear before or after the noun.
Look at these uses of vrai:
Before the noun, vrai means quite a / elaborate / interesting.
After the noun, vrai means true/real.
Note that generally adjectives appear after the noun, but some very common adjectives go before.
See also:
Ancien = former / old (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Cher= dear / expensive (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Certain = specific / sure (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Dernier = final / previous (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Propre = own / clean (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Q&A Forum 5 questions, 8 answers
FriendKwiziq community member
I thought the plural of "un" and "une" was " des", but the video link example says it is "de". Is that correct?
Asked 7 months ago
FriendKwiziq community member
Merci! Wow, I've been using "des" in front of adjectives for years. Very embarrassing.
Friend asked:View original
I thought the plural of "un" and "une" was " des", but the video link example says it is "de". Is that correct?
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MelodyKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Vrai vs. faux
I think it would be helpful to point out in this lesson that vrai vs. faux do not behave (placement) in the same was as other opposites such as grand/petit, bon/mauvais etc.
Asked 2 years ago
MelodyKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I was also referencing the lesson Short and common adjectives that go BEFORE nouns (adjective position)
It's easy to miss the fact while faux obeys the usual rules, vrai does not. Other opposites do. I made the wrong assumption about vrai/ faux.
All I was suggesting was adding this as a link to the current lesson, or noting in the lesson linked above, that vrai and faux to not behave in the same way as other opposites.
Melody asked:View original
Vrai vs. faux
I think it would be helpful to point out in this lesson that vrai vs. faux do not behave (placement) in the same was as other opposites such as grand/petit, bon/mauvais etc.
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JoakimKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Translation
I'm reading "seul sur Mars" (originally in English). The protagonist is testing that his equipment can clean air properly: "D’accord, ce n’est pas un vrai test, car je ne suis pas à l’intérieur à consommer de l’oxygène et produire du CO2". If understand this lesson properly, a better translation would be "ce n'est pas un test vrai" ?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Joakim !
First of all, well done! That's quite a challenge!
As for "vrai", the nuance of position is more complicated than this.
As I told you before, generally speaking, a lot of adjectives can be used either before or after the noun. Used "after", adjectives' meaning is more literal, objective or based on neutral observation (thus "vrai" meaning "true/real" in an objective manner there), whereas used "before", adjectives take on more of a subjective, figurative or based on opinion meaning ("vrai" expressing more of an opinion of something = "a real man").
So while "un test vrai" would sound very neutral, using "un vrai test" here is also perfectly acceptable, and brings a extra "value" layer to the expression: "a test worthy of that name".
Joakim asked:View original
Translation
I'm reading "seul sur Mars" (originally in English). The protagonist is testing that his equipment can clean air properly: "D’accord, ce n’est pas un vrai test, car je ne suis pas à l’intérieur à consommer de l’oxygène et produire du CO2". If understand this lesson properly, a better translation would be "ce n'est pas un test vrai" ?
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JohnKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
true story = real story?
This one is a bit hard to distinguish since isn't a real story a true story?
When we say it's quite a story, it means it's an elaborate, interesting story, right?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour John !
We completely agreed with$your suggestions, and edited the lesson accordingly!
Merci et à bientôt !
KatieKwiziq community member
Following your comments here, shouldn't the title of the lesson also be changed to reflect your edits? As such:
Adjectives That Change Meaning According to Position - vrai (quite, elaborate, interesting / real, true)
John asked:View original
true story = real story?
This one is a bit hard to distinguish since isn't a real story a true story?
When we say it's quite a story, it means it's an elaborate, interesting story, right?
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